Ancestry Day by the Bay – A Historical Event To Attend on June 18th at SSF Conference Center

Don’t miss Ancestry Day by the Bay. It will provide a great deal of information on how to get the most out of Ancestry.com and Ancestry DNA. Registration is only $50 for Saturday’s event and includes a light breakfast. Proceeds from Ancestry Day by the Bay will benefit the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation.

Saturday, June 18, will feature a full day of classes including:

– Ancestry 101: New & Review – Getting the Most from Ancestry.com -Using AncestryDNA to Further Your Family History Research -Sharing Your Family Story.

Representatives from several Bay Area libraries and genealogical societies will be present, including the African American Genealogical Society, California Genealogical Society, San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society, San Francisco Public Library, San Mateo County Genealogical Society, Sutro Library at SF State U., and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (list subject to change and additions).

The optional luncheon speaker (limited seats available) will be retired NBC Universal executive Paula Williams Madison, Jamaican-Chinese-African American author and filmmaker of Finding Samuel Lowe (http://findingsamuellowe.com/), about her successful search for the story of her Hakka Chinese grandfather. Paula has produced a highly acclaimed film and written a book about her quest to learn more about her grandfather and her amazing connection with the Chinese side of her family and their welcome of their newly discovered family members from America and Jamaica. Paula tells a wonderful story of family lost and found.

Looking for more than one day of learning? Don’t miss the special Angel Island Day the day before, Friday, June 17. This will feature an opportunity to go to the former U.S. Immigration Station on Angel Island and learn from speakers about resources in the National Archives and other government organizations. Special package to go to Angel Island: ferry from San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf (Pier 39/41) at 9:45 a.m., shuttle to the Immigration Station, box lunch, Immigration Station admission and informative program at around 12:30 p.m. about immigration record resources that are available, and tote bag. The return ferry leaves the island at 3:20, arriving in San Francisco at 4:15 p.m. This tour is limited to 50 people, and the tickets are $60 each.

If these packages sell out, attendees can still participate by putting together their own day on the island: Purchase tickets at the dock from Blue and Gold Ferry (www.blueandgoldfleet.com) or Angel Island –Tiburon Ferry (www.angelislandferry.com), food from the Angel Island Café (www.angelisland.com) or you can bring your own, and you can take a pleasant one mile walk to the Immigration Station, where you can purchase a $5 admission. Email info@aiisf.org if you have questions.

Also on Friday, experts at the California Genealogical Society will be available for consultations from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at their Oakland offices near the 19th Street BART station (2201 Broadway, lower level), and admission to their library will be open for free to all. To sign up for consultations, submit your key questions, or to RSVP for the FREE reception that night, visit their website (http://www.eventbrite.com/o/california-genealogical-society-5537240243).

We are excited to have you come to our Ancestry Day by the Bay, but realize that sometimes things come up to prevent you from coming. Please be aware that the last day you can request a cancellation with refund is Saturday, June 4.

Please read the FAQs below for answers to common questions:
Where can I park? There is a parking lot surrounding the building, and street parking will be available.
Is the facility handicap accessible? Fully ADA accessible.

Is there handicap parking close to the facility? Yes

Do you have a special rate for the area hotels? There are no special rates, but attendees can find out more here: http://www.ssfconf.com/accommodations. Area hotels are much cheaper than in San Francisco itself.
Are there restaurants nearby? There are a few nearby including the Beijing Buffet on 245 S. Airport, Houlihan’s at 275 S. Airport, or you can eat at restaurants in local hotels. You can also purchase a box lunch when you purchase your tickets for the day. Box lunches include a choice of three sandwiches, a fresh fruit selection, homemade potato salad, bag of chips, homemade cookie and selection of cold beverage. (ESC adds within walking distance there is also IHOP, McDonalds, Lyons and a short drive to downtown South San Francisco which offers diverse foods from around the globe)

Can I bring my own lunch on Saturday? The conference center does not allow guests to bring in outside food.

How far is the venue from the airport? It is a short drive or taxi ride from the San Francisco Airport. There are airport shuttles to the Holiday Inn San Francisco Airport which is near the Conference Center.

What is the dress code for this event? Casual.

Is the venue within walking distance of the hotel? It is within walking distance from many hotels shown on the link above.

What should I bring with me? Something to take notes on, genealogy records if you want to ask other attendees or experts about them.

Can I bring a water bottle into the venue? Yes

Will this event be just for searching in California, or will it include general searches as well? General searches and research as well.

Will there be a Wi-Fi connection? There will be a basic 256Kbps WiFi connection. Faster speeds are available for $9.95 per user.

If the events for Friday are sold-out, will there be a waiting list? Who should I contact in order to get on the waiting list?

There will be a waiting list. If someone cancels, an email will be sent to the next person on the waiting list. They will have 1 day to respond and purchase the available ticket. If they don’t take action, an email will be sent to the next person on the list. If the package for the Angel Island tour sells out, you can still attend the Open House and program at the Immigration Station. You will just need to purchase your ticket on the ferry website or at the docks that morning, purchase food at the Angel Island Café (you can order ahead of time on their website) or bring your own lunch, and walk over to the Immigration Station. For questions, contact info@aiisf.org.

What is there to do in San Francisco on a Friday evening? There is a lot to do in San Francisco and the Bay Area. Those who don’t wish to go to the California Genealogical Society event in Oakland on Friday evening can find out about many things to do at sites like www.sfgate.com.

Can I get to the site by public transportation? Yes. There are several options. Go to www.transit511.org for door to door instructions. One is to take the San Mateo Transit (SAMTRANS) bus #292 from 5th and Mission or other stops along Mission Street in San Francisco to right across the street from the Conference Center. The ride takes about 45 minutes. Another option is to take BART to the South San Francisco BART station and take a cab, Lyft or Uber to the Conference Center. You can take BART to the San Francisco Airport and take a shuttle to the Holiday Inn San Francisco Airport next door. The shuttle runs every 30 minutes. Finally, you can also take Caltrain from San Francisco or the Peninsula/Silicon Valley and walk (14 minutes according to Google) or take a cab, Lyft or Uber to the Conference Center.

Public transit directions including to Pier 39 and 41 and the Friday reception can be found at www.transit511.org. The Friday reception is two blocks from the 20th Street exit from the 19th Street BART station.